The Novice Runner: Summer Running

Please take a moment to sing "summer running" to the tune of "Summer Nights'" from Grease. Because that's how I've been thinking
about the title of this post, and now I'm not the only one with Olivia
Newton John and John Travolta rolling around in my brain.

I'm sorry. That was mean. But I can't suffer alone!

Okay, so -- summer running. I am remembering now what I dislike about
summer running. My joy at being able to run again -- hooray! -- is
wilting in the heat and humidity and one-too-many glasses of wine. What?
A girl's got to have a social life!

I know that we in the Pacific Northwest have it so much better than the
rest of the country. Our heat is nothing like what they have in the
south, and our humidity doesn't compare to a summer in the northeast.
But you know that's not going to stop me from complaining about it.

These legs were meant for running! ...or tanning! Lounging poolside is my natural state during the summer, but it's time to break out of the mold and kick it into gear.

I'm a Portland native -- a rare breed, so I'm told -- and so I thrive on
days where the forecast is, say, 70 and partly cloudy. That's a nice,
warm day for me. Anything warmer than that, and all I want to do is park
myself next to a pool and work on my tan. Not just because I love a tan
(so flattering!), but because the heat just saps my will to move. It's
so hot and sweaty and did I mention hot? Gross.

But here I find myself, in the middle of a gorgeous Oregon summer. Days
on end of 80+ degrees and training runs on my schedule. Hmm. What's a
girl to do?

Well, this last week, a girl ignored her running shoes and drank a lot of white wine on various patios throughout the city. Um. Oops?

Then a girl got her act together and signed up for the SHOC
Foundation run. Which means I have three weeks to get from wine to 5K.
(That's my new app idea -- Wine to 5K -- don't steal it!)

So tonight (it's Thursday night as I write this) I cancelled my social plans -- no wine for me! -- and actually took pains to resist the office cookies and drink copious amounts of water to prepare for my run. I know. This is totally against my nature, but it's also against my nature to go into something completely and totally unprepared. So I guess I have to find a balance.

With the threat of thunder storms on the way -- the trifecta of my natural enemies: heat, humidity and straight-hair-ruining rain -- and a neighborhood full of Achilles-taunting hills, I took to my treadmill this evening. And then I ran. And despite being indoors, my garage is not air conditioned and it was hot as balls in there. This? This is what I hate about summer running. There is no escape from the heat!

But I knocked it out nonetheless. And despite being so incredibly sweaty awesome looking at the end of my run, it was actually nice to take a break from the social scene and have a little time with just me and Carly Rae (oh yes, I did).

And now I think I've more than earned my Friday night wine. Followed by a Saturday morning run. Balance, people. It's all about balance... PS: Did you sign up for the SHOC Foundation 5K/10K on August 4? I'm on board and looking for some company!